Sir Alex Ferguson is unhappy he could lose two of his Manchester United players for the beginning of the season becaue of the Olympics (all papers).

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze have been called up for Portugal and Argentina respectively for the Athens tournament.

And Sir Alex fears they could suffer burnout and said: "If Cristiano plays in the Olympics we are going to have to give him two months rest for his own good.

"That means he won't play until November. The situation is ridiculous."

He added about Heinze: "The left back position was his, but at the start of the season I am going to have to give it to someone else if he is at the Olympics.

"He could find it difficult to get into the team. In fact he may never play a game for Manchester United."

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The playground taunts between Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho continue with the Chelsea manager claiming money does not buy success (all papers).

Sir Alex claimed on Wednesday that Chelsea's title chances are not guaranteed even after spending over £190m on players.

And Mourinho agreed by using the example of his former club Porto - who beat United in last season's Champions League.

He said: "Money does not buy you points and victories.

If you go back a few months Porto had ten per cent of Man United's budget but beat them. So he is absolutely correct."

Meanwhile Chelsea fans' favourite Gianfranco Zola has raised hopes he could return to Stamford bridge as a coach after he rejected a new contract at Cagliari, according to the Express.

His agent Fulvio Marrucco said: "The distance between Gianfranco and Cagliari are too great, and this is the point at which paths divide."

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The Football League have expressed fears over the financial stability of their clubs after FIFA withdraws special dispensation for transfers outside the window.

FIFA have told the football league they are allowed to transfer among themselves outside the two transfer windows until the 2005-06 season.

But chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney told the Telegraph: "FIFA are unlikely to extend it further. I'm concerned about the new regulations and effect they could have on Football League clubs."

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Arsenal have wasted no time in signing Middlesbrough-bound Ray Parlour's replacement - but managerArsene Wenger admits the club are powerless to stop rumours of Patrick Vieira leaving the club (all papers).

The Gunners have signed France Under-21 midfielder Mathieu Flamini from Marseille as rumours linking Arsenal captain Vieira gathered pace.

Wenger said: "I do not believe anything I say will stop the stories. I have been speaking to Patrick regularly but have now reached a situation where I cannot do anymore."

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Kevin Keegan has told Everton striker Wayne Rooney he is too young to play abroad (The Sun).

Keegan, who played for Hamburg when he was 27, believes it will be hard to adjust for the 18-year-old, who has been linked with big money moves following his Euro 2004 successes.

He said: "My only piece of advice to Wayne would be to say he's too young to go abroad. I left England at 27.

"I had played 40 or 50 times for England, won championships and gained massive experience playing in Europe for Liverpool, and I still found it tough."

Meanwhile Everton had to leave Duncan Ferguson out of their US tour because of his criminal record (all papers).

Ferguson was refused a visa because of his conviction for assault in 1994.